The effect of solvents on high molecular weight, stable acetal resins

Abstract

Abstract High molecular weight polyoxymethylenes are not soluble at room temperature in any of the hundreds of solvents or solvent systems tested. However, solutions can be obtained at elevated temperatures with a wide variety of solvents. Phenolic compounds are the most effective at temperatures of 50–100°C. At the other extreme of solubility, solvents are absorbed by the acetal polymer in varying amounts, depending on the crystallinity of the polymer and the cohesive energy density of the solvent. The absorption is concentrated entirely in the noncrystalline region of the polymer.